Those clouds might not have done you a big favour in your attempt to capture star trails.
But they did do you a great favour so you could get this amazing photo of the light pollution - I really like your Photo 2 much better than 1.

The exposure was between 10 and 15 minutes. I wish we could've had time to go somewhere less lit but it was a spur of the moment photo trip. It was about 2am when I decided that I want to attempt a star pic so there wasn't a whole lot of time to get some place more secluded. Maybe the next attempt will be better!!

Thank you for all the comments, the second one is my favorite also! I'm getting ready to go to St. Louis so I hope I'll get some good pics there. It's my honeymoon so I don't know how much time I'll spend outside.

Thank you for all the comments, the second one is my favorite also! I'm getting ready to go to St. Louis so I hope I'll get some good pics there. It's my honeymoon so I don't know how much time I'll spend outside.

Click to expand...

Congrats
I wish I have chance to take photos like that. Now I am working to earn enough to buy a good camera. Other difficulties, in tropical region, there are few clear nights that you can take good pictures of the skies